MergeHelper vs. Trailer.app
Trailer.app is a long-running GitHub tool for tracking pull requests and issues from the menubar. MergeHelper focuses on PR/MR workflow across GitHub and GitLab.
Trailer.app has been in the GitHub ecosystem for years. It sits in your macOS menubar, surfaces pull requests and issues, and integrates with Notification Center so you can keep up with reviews and comments. It is configurable, lightweight, and free.
MergeHelper takes a modern, cross-platform perspective for macOS developers who live in both GitHub and GitLab. Instead of a broad GitHub-only feed, it provides a unified list of PRs and MRs with live CI, approval status, and build log access so you can focus on review decisions rather than inbox cleanup.
If your world is GitHub-only and you want a free, proven menubar tracker, Trailer.app remains a solid choice. If you want a single, distraction-free review queue for GitHub and GitLab together, MergeHelper can be a better fit.
The key difference is scope: Trailer.app is a GitHub-centric tracker with deep Notification Center integration, while MergeHelper is a unified PR/MR list that spans both platforms.
Quick comparison
| Feature | MergeHelper | Trailer.app |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub support | ✓ | ✓ |
| GitLab support | ✓ | - |
| Menubar app | ✓ | ✓ |
| Track PRs and issues | - | ✓ |
| PR/MR focused list | ✓ | ✓ |
| Notification Center integration | - | ✓ |
| Open source | - | ✓ |
| Pricing | Free (up to 3 PRs/MRs) $12 one-time for unlimited |
Free |
Screenshots
MergeHelper keeps GitHub and GitLab reviews together in one focused list.
Trailer.app highlights GitHub PRs and issues with Notification Center alerts.
Detailed feature breakdown
Workflow scope: GitHub-only vs GitHub + GitLab
Trailer.app is designed around GitHub. You can track pull requests and issues across repositories, view labels and CI status, and jump straight into GitHub when something needs your attention. If your workflow lives exclusively in GitHub, Trailer.app covers the essentials without extra overhead.
MergeHelper is designed for teams that live in multiple platforms. It does not try to be an issue tracker; instead it focuses on PRs and MRs across GitHub and GitLab with CI, approvals, and build logs attached to each review. That unified queue is where most review work happens, which makes it easier to keep merges moving without juggling two different tools.
Notifications and signal
Trailer.app integrates with Notification Center so you can receive updates about comments, status checks, and merges. It also groups items into useful categories like Mine, Participated, Mentioned, or Merged, which makes it easy to switch between focus modes quickly.
MergeHelper keeps PR event notifications tied to the review list and emphasizes review readiness. It shows the state of each PR or MR, its age, live CI, and approvals, so you can prioritize what is blocking a release or what has been sitting too long without action.
Customization and filtering
Trailer.app is known for being configurable. You can filter items by typing, focus on watched repositories, and choose which categories you want to see. For developers who want a tailored GitHub experience, this flexibility is a plus.
MergeHelper keeps the interface intentionally minimal. It includes filtering options, but it prioritizes clarity over deep customization. The goal is to open the list and immediately know what needs review without spending time curating the inbox.
Status checks and review context
Trailer.app can surface labels and CI status updates alongside PRs and issues. That extra context is useful for triage when you are juggling multiple repositories or want to spot failing checks without opening GitHub.
MergeHelper surfaces the most essential review context: the item, its status, CI, approvals, and how long it has been waiting. The goal is to keep the list short and decisive rather than overwhelm you with every metadata detail.
Ecosystem extras
Trailer.app also offers an iOS companion and a terminal client, which can be useful if you want your GitHub review list on more than just your Mac. It has been around for years and has a user base that appreciates its stability and simplicity.
MergeHelper stays focused on macOS and the menubar experience. The benefit is a clean UI that feels native, with the added advantage of bridging GitHub and GitLab in one place.
Workflow examples
If you are a GitHub-focused engineer who wants to track both issues and pull requests, Trailer.app is a comfortable choice. Its categories and Notification Center alerts are helpful for day-to-day GitHub work, especially if you prefer a free, well-established tool.
If you are a release manager or team lead, MergeHelper makes it easier to keep the review queue moving. The unified list lets you scan for stalled reviews across GitHub and GitLab and nudge the right people without wading through a full notification backlog.
If your company uses GitLab for internal repos and GitHub for open source, MergeHelper can save you time by combining everything into one review queue. You do not need to keep two separate apps open or maintain two different notification systems.
If you mostly review PRs and do not care about issues, MergeHelper keeps the list short and focused. Trailer.app is broader, which is helpful for some workflows but can feel noisy if you are only interested in reviews.
Setup and security
Trailer.app connects using a GitHub token and uses that to fetch your PRs, issues, and comments. Setup is quick: generate a token, paste it in, and the menubar list starts populating. Because it is open source, you can see how it works and even extend it if needed.
MergeHelper connects to both GitHub and GitLab and stores credentials in the macOS Keychain. It processes PR and MR data locally and does not collect usage analytics, which keeps data on your device while still offering a unified view.
Longevity and maintenance
Trailer.app has been around for a long time and has a loyal community, which is reassuring if you want a stable, proven tool that does not change dramatically. That history also means it leans toward a classic interface and a broad set of options. MergeHelper is newer and intentionally focused on the modern PR/MR workflow with a clean menubar UI, so the emphasis is on fast review context and cross-platform visibility rather than deep customization. If you prefer a mature GitHub-only tool, Trailer.app is a dependable option. If you want a unified GitHub and GitLab review list, MergeHelper is built specifically for that use case.
Why choose MergeHelper
MergeHelper is designed for developers who want a single list of PRs and MRs across GitHub and GitLab. It is a fast way to see what needs review and what is blocking progress without switching between platforms.
The app keeps things minimal and review-focused, which makes it a good fit for teams that care most about keeping the merge queue moving while still seeing CI and approvals at a glance.
- ✓Unified GitHub and GitLab list in one menubar app
- ✓Review-centric UI with CI, approvals, and age cues
- ✓Simple one-time pricing with lifetime updates
Why choose Trailer.app
Trailer.app is a solid choice if you want a free, GitHub-only menubar tool that covers issues and PRs, not just reviews. Its Notification Center integration and categories make it easier to stay on top of activity without living in the browser.
It also has iOS and terminal companions, which is helpful if you want your GitHub queue available beyond your Mac.
- ✓Free and open source with years of stability
- ✓Tracks GitHub issues and PRs with flexible categories
- ✓Notification Center integration plus iOS and CLI options
Pricing comparison
MergeHelper
Free for up to 3 concurrent PRs/MRs.
$12 one-time purchase unlocks unlimited tracking with lifetime updates.
Trailer.app
Free and open source.
Download the macOS app and optional iOS or terminal clients.
Can you use both?
Some teams use Trailer.app for GitHub issues and general activity while using MergeHelper for the review queue that spans both GitHub and GitLab. This keeps the PR/MR list clean while still letting you track issues if that is part of your daily workflow.
Because the apps focus on different scopes, they do not conflict. Trailer.app can handle issue triage and GitHub-only notifications, while MergeHelper is where you make merge decisions and keep the cross-platform review queue flowing.
If you are GitHub-only, running both is usually unnecessary. But if your work is split between platforms, MergeHelper can handle the review list while Trailer.app remains a GitHub-specific supplement.
Compare more apps
The bottom line
Trailer.app is a reliable, free tool for GitHub-only workflows that need PR and issue tracking with Notification Center alerts. MergeHelper is built for developers who want a single review queue across GitHub and GitLab without the noise of a broader inbox.
If you are all-in on GitHub, Trailer.app remains a solid option. If your reviews span multiple platforms, MergeHelper keeps everything in one list and reduces cross-platform juggling. For teams that use GitHub and GitLab side by side, the unified list can be a strong reason to choose MergeHelper.